The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-22

OF my laD0rS curing Tile CoHVeneion
year ending Sept. 81, 1887. Monthly
reports have been made to the Trustees,
giving the details of my work and con-
dition of the field. The Trustees are
thereby kept informed regarding the
progress we are making and are enabled
to wisely direct the work. These re-
ports serve the further purpose of an
incentive to the Superintendent to be
diligent in discharging the duties of his
office. shall here give only general
outline of the work, with some recon-
mendations, that the Convention may
know what has been accomplished and
be enabled to so plan the work of the
coming year, that better and larger re-
suits may be obtained. In some direc-
tions, perhaps, less has been accom-
plished than we expected, while in
others much better results have been
reached than we had reason to expect.
On the whole, larger amount of work
has been done and grander results
achieved than ever before in any year in
our UNCONVENTIONAL history in this
State. l am very hopeful regarding
the future of our church in Illinois.
Our church now occupies a command
ing and assured position; and we may
confidently hope for larger results in
the near future, if our people will only
faithfully improve their opportunities
and carry forward to successful issue,
the measures and methods already in
augurated by the church. Nearly all
the parishes are willing to accept our
plan of work, and the time is not far
distant, when every church will have
the true missionary spirit and be 80 far
loyal to the general church as to most
earnestly cooperate in any plan of work
that gives a reasonable promise of sue
cess. Our churches are every year re-
spending more promptly and generously
to the appeal of this Convention for aid
in carrying forward the missionary
work.
State of the Church.
Our churches are gaining in strength
and influence, because better organized
and more efficient in administration
We are becoming more aggressive and
successful in our work of helping Christ
ianize the world, and are willing to
adopt any method of work which shall
be found helpful in promoting more
truly religious and spiritual life. The
Christian church has not universally
accepted our theology; and even if it
had, doctrinal preaching would still be
edifying to the church. There still ex-
lists, in some localities, great ignorance
regarding our theology and some oppo-
sition to our church; but we have essen
TALLY won our position and are recog-
nized as a branch of the Christian
church. The controversial age is pass
ing away and we are entering con-
structive period, now far more import
ant and vital to our UNCONVENTIONAL ex-
kbIOuOC nLO dof duOCs L hO
age was the voice of one crying in the
wilderness, preparing the way for the
greater and more edifying period of re-
ligious activity and spiritual life, Pc
culiar to a Christian church. We need
more of the missionary spirit and should
have deeper interest in the work of
church extension. Our people must be
instructed regarding their relation to
the general work of the church and
give it cordial support; both as a
means of extending the kingdom and Of
promoting religious activity in the local
church. Several of our pastors have
held special services with view of
deepening the religious life of the
church members; and by these means
have also secured accessions to the
church. The special services conducted
by the Superintendent have also been
helpful in promoting the religious life
and increasing the membership of our
churches. The people have deep in
GoIoSt III Iuo opOCldl oOlNlCOo VI Jul
church and are making greater efforts
to provide for the spiritual needs of the
church and of the children. We have
made substantial gain during the year.
New parishes have been organized in
North Chicago, Woodlawn and New
Boston. st. Paul's parish in Chicago
is erecting ne W church building.
The church in Hoopeston has been
completed and furnished ready for &C.
cupancy. We have to report an unusu-
ally large number of pastorless churches;
but several of these are seeking pastors
and will be supplied within a very short
time. A large number of churches must
be supplied with preaching through
missionary effort, either by the aid of
the Convention, or by earnest, devoted
ministers, willing to take some risk of
support from those to whom they would
minister. 1t is difficult to get minis
tiers willing to take this risk and labor
with small church, where the salary
is contingent upon the result OF their
labors and growth of the parish. 1t
seems more desirable to enter a well
organized parish where a good living
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